James Forrest: I just want to keep helping the team to win

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Celtic F.C.

·28 de abril de 2024

James Forrest: I just want to keep helping the team to win

James Forrest was in the starting XI today for the first time since the game away to Lazio at the end of November.

And the 32-year-old marked the occasion by scoring both goals to give the Hoops a 2-1 win over Dundee at Dens Park, a result which maintains the team’s three-point lead at the top of the table.

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The double makes it six goals in the campaign for Forrest, while it takes his overall tally for Celtic to 107 in 491 appearances.

These are the stats of a genuine Celtic legend but Forrest, characteristically, was modest about his own contribution. He was simply pleased to contribute to another Celtic win.

Speaking to Celtic TV after the games, Forrest said: “The first goal today was a good goal and I was glad I contributed and helped the team and we got the three points, which is the most important thing.

“We started well and had a few different combinations, especially down my side, and we got in a couple of times and maybe just our final pass wasn’t there. But once we got the goal, we settled into it.”

This season, Forrest has played 24 games – four starts and 20 as a substitute – scoring six goals, including his double at Dens Park today.

That compares to last season when he played a total of 23 games – 5 starts and 18 as a sub – with five goals to his name.

And while the player always wants to play, whenever that’s not the case, he simply gets his head down and continues working hard every day on the training ground.

“It was difficult and I think there was a wee spell in January-February when I wasn’t in squad,” he said, “but you just need to keep working hard and keep training because in football anything can happen and it can change pretty quickly from game to game.

'So you need to keep yourself on top of it in case you do get a chance. I’ve managed to do that and the last six weeks have been good.'

“I’ve been back in the squad and contributing to the team and hopefully I can do that with the remaining games of the season.

“If I look at my Celtic career, ninety percent of that, and maybe more, has been so positive and there have been so many great memories and I’ve always felt this season that I could still contribute and still help the team.

“So it’s been great coming here, getting the three points and scoring a couple of goals and I’m just looking forward to the next couple of games and I want to keep doing more.”